Jagr Leads Penguins Over Bruins

The Pittsburgh Penguins have loaded $18 million worth of talent on their top line and got the kind of return they expect on that investment Saturday night.

Jaromir Jagr scored his second hat trick of the season to raise his NHL-leading goal total to 22 and he helped Mario Lemieux and Ron Francis achieve career milestones as the Penguins beat the Boston Bruins, 6-2, at Boston. “That’s what they pay me to do is score goals,” Jagr said with a shrug.

Lemieux had a goal and three assists for a season-best four points. Francis had a goal and two assists.

The three combined for half of Pittsburgh’s 26 shots on goal as they overwhelmed the Bruins, particularly in the second period.

Jagr assisted on Lemieux’s score to start a four-goal second period. It was Lemieux’s 1,400th career point and Francis’ 900th assist, making each the ninth player to reach those levels.

OTHER GAMES

No one will mistake Dainius Zubrus for Eric Lindros. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound rookie, however, did his best impersonation while helping the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Ottaway. The 18-year-old Zubrus had a goal, an assist and several big hits in his first return as a pro to Ottawa valley where he was a junior hockey star. The Flyers won their first game since the return of Lindros, the team’s captain. . . . Jim Carey made 27 saves, and Dale Hunter and Peter Bondra scored goals as the Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens, 2-0, at Montreal. . . . Jeff O’Neill’s third-period breakaway goal keyed the Hartford Whalers’ 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Tampa. . . . Mike Modano had two goals during Dallas’ four-goal second period, and the Stars went on to hand the stumbling Toronto Maple Leafs their eighth consecutive road defeat at Dallas. . . . Dominik Hasek stopped 27 shots, including 11 in the third period, as the Buffalo Sabres survived a late comeback try by the New York Islanders for a 3-2 victory at New York. . . . Patrick Roy made 30 saves and Joe Sakic scored the tie-breaking goal in the third period as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, at Denver. . . . Mike Gartner scored two third-period goals to give the Phoenix Coyotes a 3-1 victory over the visiting Calgary Flames.